The "Automatically patch vulnerabilities" option is disabled in the endpoint profile. Additionally, the Vulnerability Dashboard shows the patching status as "Manual patching required." This means an administrator must manually initiate the patching process remotely using FortiSASE.

The core of the issue shown in the exhibits is the lack of visibility into encrypted traffic.
* HTTPS Encryption: The eicar.org website uses the HTTPS protocol for its downloads. This means the data payload, including the test malware file, is encrypted as it traverses the network.
* SSL Inspection Modes: As seen in the Security profile group exhibit (image_5705fc.jpg), the SSL inspection mode is explicitly set to Certificate inspection mode .
* Visibility Gap: Certificate inspection only analyzes the initial SSL handshake, such as the server certificate and SNI (Server Name Indication). It does not decrypt the traffic payload. Consequently, the antivirus engine in FortiSASE cannot " see " or scan the eicar.com-zip file hidden within the encrypted session.
* Resolution Requirement: To detect and block malicious files over HTTPS, SSL Deep Inspection must be enabled. Deep inspection allows FortiSASE to act as a proxy, decrypting the traffic for full content scanning by the antivirus and IPS engines before re-encrypting it for the endpoint.
* Log Analysis: While the web filtering logs (image_5704e5.jpg) show the traffic is " Allowed " because the URL is not blocked by a web filter category, this is only the first step of inspection. The antivirus engine is present but ineffective because it is blind to the encrypted content due to the lack of deep inspection.

FortiSASE brings the following advantages to businesses with multiple branch offices:
Centralized Management for Simplified Administration:
FortiSASE provides a centralized management platform that allows administrators to manage security policies, configurations, and monitoring from a single interface. This simplifies the administration and reduces the complexity of managing multiple branch offices.
Eliminates the Need for On-Premises Firewalls:
FortiSASE enables secure access to the internet and cloud applications without requiring dedicated on-premises firewalls at each branch office.
This reduces hardware costs and simplifies network architecture, as security functions are handled by the cloud-based FortiSASE solution.

FortiSASE releases network lockdown when the endpoint is evaluated as trusted within the security posture framework. This occurs when the device is identified as being on the trusted corporate network or when it meets compliance requirements validated through ZTNA posture and tagging, allowing normal network access to resume.

FortiSASE supports zero trust network access (ZTNA) principles by identifying attributes on the endpoint for security posture checks. ZTNA principles require continuous verification of user and device credentials, as well as their security posture, before granting access to network resources.
* Security Posture Check:
* FortiSASE can evaluate the security posture of endpoints by checking for compliance with security policies, such as antivirus status, patch levels, and configuration settings.
* This ensures that only compliant and secure devices are granted access to the network.
* Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA):
* ZTNA is based on the principle of "never trust, always verify," which requires continuous assessment of user and device trustworthiness.
* FortiSASE plays a crucial role in implementing ZTNA by performing these security posture checks and enforcing access control policies.
References:
FortiOS 7.6 Administration Guide: Provides information on ZTNA and endpoint security posture checks.
FortiSASE 23.2 Documentation: Details on how FortiSASE implements ZTNA principles.